Photo: USA TODAY
While speaking with reporters pregame on Tuesday, New York Mets manager Luis Rojas confirmed that right-hander Noah Syndergaard successfully completed his first live bullpen session this afternoon at Oracle Park.
Syndergaard threw one simulated inning, 15-20 pitches, to Francisco Lindor and Luis Guillorme. He threw all fastballs and changeups, and according to Rojas his velocity was sitting around the mid-90s and he had good movement on his pitches.
Syndergaard was of course shut down from throwing after he felt soreness in his right elbow during his second rehab start in late May.
He began playing catch again towards the end of July, and seems to be ramping things up. As Mets acting General Manager Zack Scott speculated on Monday, if all goes well Syndergaard could be heading out to begin another rehab assignment shortly.
At this point, the right-hander is expected to return to the club sometime in early September. As Scott suggested a few weeks ago, Syndergaard will likely pitch out of the bullpen upon his return to the team.
Rojas also mentioned that today was a productive day for Lindor, whose rehab work with the team has been even more than going through a rehab assignment. The team is still not sure if Lindor will need to participate in rehab games before returning.
Guillorme, on the other hand, will likely require a rehab assignment as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. The infielder ran at close to 100%, hit, and took grounders this afternoon and felt really good.
